Toy miniature bridge and overpass



March 8, 1960 F. B. HALL, JR 2,927,396

TOY MINIATURE BRIDGE AND OVERPASS Filed April 29, 1958 ATTORNEYS INVENTOR.

Uni ed States Patent C) TOY MINIATURE BRIDGE AND OVERPASS Fred B. Hall, In, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Application April 29, 1958, Serial No. 731,815

3 Claims. (Cl. 46-17) This invention relates to a toy bridge or overpass.

The object of the invention is to provide a'toy bridge which is adapted to be readily disassembled or assembled and wherein the toy bridge and overpass will provide much amusement and recreation to children, adults or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toy miniature bridgeand overpass which includes a main span and a pair of inclined aprons, and wherein a means is provided for interlocking the aprons and main span together so that the parts will be maintained in their proper assembled positions when the device is being used, and wherein when the device is not being used, the parts can be readily disassembled so that the entire assembly will occupy a minimum amount of space for storage or shipment.

. A further object of the invention is to provide a toy miniature bridge and overpass which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the toy miniature bridge and overpass of the present invention. 7

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Figure l. V

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an elevational view, showing the parts disassembled.

Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating one of the support members.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral indicates the toy miniature bridge and overpass of the present invention which includes a pair of similar vertically disposed spaced parallel support members 11. As shown in Figure 5, each support member 11 includes a flat lower surface 12 and a flat upper surface 13, and the sides of the support members are arcuately recessed or cutout as at 14. These recesses 14 can be used to increase the attractiveness of the device and also serve as hand-holds and further help reduce the weight of the device.

The device of the present invention includes a pair of similar inclined aprons which are each indicated by the numeral 16, and each apron 16 includes an inclined flooring 17, the upper edges of the fioorings 17 being beveled as at 18.

Each of the aprons 16 further includes a pair of spaced parallel beams 19, and these beams 19 are secured beneath the flooring 17 in any suitable manner. The beams 19 extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the flooring 17, and the beams 19 are arranged adjacent the outer side edges of the flooring. The upper end portions of the beams 19 are tapered as at 20. The numeral 21 indicates Patented Mar. '8, 1960 a bar which is arranged below the upper end of the flooring 17, and the bar 21 extends at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the flooring. The bar 21 is spaced from the adjacent ends of the beams 19, and the 5 outer edge of the bar 21 is flush with the bevel edge 18 of the flooring 17.

There is further provided a main span which is indicated generally by the numeral 22, and the main span 2.2 includes a horizontally disposed road bed 23 which has a pair of spaced parallel stringers or beams 24 secured therebelow. The stringers 24 are arranged adjacent the outer side edges of the road bed 23. Arranged adjacent the ends of the stringers 24 and extending at right angles to the stringers are pairs of crosspieces 25, Figure 4. These crosspieces 25 are adapted to straddle the upper ends of the support members 11, when the device is in assembled position. Furthermore, the stringers 24 are adapted to snugly seat in the slots 15 of the support members 11.

The main span 22 further includes a pair of spaced parallel end members 26, and these end members 26 extend between the ends of the stringers 24 and are secured thereto in any suitable manner. The end members 26 are arranged in a plane which is slightly above the crosspieces 25 and when the toy bridge is assembled, the bars- 21 interengage with the end members 26 so that the aprons will be maintained or locked in an inclined position. The upper edges of the end members 26 are inclined as at 27, and the adjacent end portions of the stringers 24 are inclined as at 28, and these inclined surfaces 28 and 27 engage the lower end surface of the adjacent portion of the flooring 17, as for example as shown in Figure 3. 7

Posts 29 extend upwardly from the flooring 17 and roadbed 23, and rails- 30 are secured to the upper ends of the posts 29. When the parts are assembled, the rails 30 are arranged in alignment as for example as shown in Figure 1.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a toy miniature bridge and overpass which can be readily assembled or disassembled as desired. When the parts are in the assembled position as shown in Figure 1, the crosspieces 25 straddle the upper ends of the vertically disposed support members 11, and the beams 24 engage or seat in the slots 15. The pair of aprons 16 are arranged so that the end members 26 fit in the spaces between the bars 21 and beams 19 so that the pair of aprons 16 will be locked or held in the inclined position shown in the drawings. The inclined surfaces 28 and 27 engage the inclined flooring 17 so that there is a tight joint or seal between the flooring 17 and roadbed 23. With the parts locked in position as shown in the drawings, it will be seen that the toy bridge will be maintained in assembled position so that children or other persons can readily use the same for any desired purpose, as for example the children can cause toy vehicles to travel up the aprons and across the main span or the device can be used in any desired manner.

Thus, it will be seen that there has been provided a toy which is in the nature of a miniature bridge or overpass and wherein the device consists of a minimum number of parts which can be readily assembled by small children or the like. The bridge can be held in its proper position or arrangement without requiring the use of screws, bolts or the like. The pair of aprons 16 are of identical formation or construction. The toy is quickly and easily assembled or disassembled and if desired, more sections can be added and furthermore, if desired, other accessories such as towers, cables or the like can be added or used. The toy could be made in a design to resemble a Bascule, swing bridge or the like. When a child uses the bridge in conjunction with mechanical tanks, trucks,

are mobiles and the like, the .child will derive much rec;

tea on and pleasure and amusement therefrom.

Mlnor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may edge beveled, a pair of spaced parallel beams secured beneath said flooring and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the flooring, said beams being arranged djace he outer side, edges of the flooring, the upper end portions of the beams being tapered, a bar arranged below the upper end of the flooring and secured thereto, '4 ba having its. longitudinal axis extending perpena dicular to the longitudinal axis of the. flooring, said bar being spaced from the adjacent ends of the beams; the outer edge of the bar being flush with the beveled edge or the flooring, a hor zontally disposed main span includa ing a horizontally disposed roadbed, a pair of spaced parallel stringers arranged below said roadbed and secured thereto, said stringers having their longitudinal axes extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the roadbed, and the outer ends of the stringers extending beyond the roadbed and being tapered to properly incline said aprons in relation to said main span, a pair of spaced Parallel crosspieces secured below each end of the. stringers, said crosspieces being spaced apart a sufficient dis tance so. that said crosspieces will straddle the upper portions of the support members, said stringers being seated in the slots. in the support members, spaced parallel end members extending below. the ends of said stringers and secured thereto, said end members snugly fitting in the space between the bars and beams, so that when said aprons are positioned in inclined relation to saidmain span "said; parallel end members will retain said aprons in fixed relation to said main span.

fa toy i a re q d wn b ds and, erpass, ap r r i al isp pac pa al e supp r m m.- e is, with f sa uppor membe s ng o o ta ly disposed upper andlower fiat surfaces, there being at-cuate recesses in the sides of the support members, there adjacent the outer side edges of the flooring, the upper end portions of the beams being tapered, a bar arranged below the upper end of the flooring and secured thereto, said bar having its longitudinal axis extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flooring, said bar being spaced from the adjacent ends of the beams, the

outer edge of the bar being flush with the beveled edge of the flooring, a horizontally disposed main span including a horizontally disposed roadbed, a pair of spaced parallel stringers arranged below said roadbed and secured thereto, said stringers having their" longitudinal axes extending parallel to the longitudinal axisof the roadbed, and the outer ends of the stringers extending beyond the roadbed and being tapered to properly incline said aprons in relation to said main span a pair of spaced parallel crosspieces secured below each end of the stringers, said crosspieces being spaced apart a sufiicient distance so that said crosspieces will straddle the upper portions of the support members, said stringers being seated in the slots in the support members, spaced parallel end members extending below the ends of said stringers and secured thereto, said end members snugly fitting in the space between the bars and beams, so that when said aprons are positioned in inclined relation to said main span said parallel end members will retain said" aprons in fixed relation to said main span the upper edges of the end members and the adjacentend portions ofthe stringers being inclined for engagement with the inclined flooring of the aprons.

3. The structure as defined; in claim 2, and further including posts extending upwardly from the flooring and roadbed, and rails secured to Said posts.

References; Cited in the file of this patent U TED STATES P NT 249,448, Barnes Nov. 15, 1881 320,292 Sanford June 16, 1885: 1.14 11 3v St l man u e 1'1 v 1924 2,507,354 Spunberg May, 9, 1950 

